Kmart's Giving Hat campaign raises $16.1 million for St. Jude Children's Resarch Hospital

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. - Kmart's Giving Hat campaign this past holiday season contributed to $16.1 million in total donations to St. Jude Children's Resarch Hospital, the company announced Tuesday. The Giving Hat - a stylish winter knit hat created by Kmart to encourage giving to St. Jude – successfully engaged shoppers in new ways, the company noted. 

 

"Our donation to St. Jude would never be possible without the support from our Kmart members, customers and associates across the country," stated Alasdair James, Kmart president and chief member officer. "We also saw firsthand how the introduction of The Giving Hat warmed hearts and heads, and brought us together to help raise funds for St. Jude in the fight against childhood cancer."

 

"Kmart continues to be a leader for our St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign and we are grateful for their unwavering commitment to the children of St. Jude," said Marlo Thomas, national outreach director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "The incredible support of their customers and associates allows us to keep my father's founding promise that no family ever pays St. Jude for anything – not for treatment, travel, housing or food because we believe all a family should worry about is helping their child live. This year, Kmart, in collaboration with St. Jude, designed and sold The Giving Hat to raise additional funds and awareness for the lifesaving work happening at St. Jude. The hat truly embodied the spirit of the season and campaign."

 

A total of 20% from the sale of each $5 hat was added to the donation Kmart stores raised over the holiday season for St. Jude. More than 105,000 Giving Hats were sold and hundreds of Kmart shoppers showcased their passion for St. Jude by wearing their Giving Hats and sharing the photos on social media.

 

Kmart is encouraging members to continue to share photos of themselves and their friends and family wearing The Giving Hat on the St. Jude Shop Your Way page (www.shopyourway.com/stjude). Kmart also welcomes members to post messages on the page about those in their life who may also be fighting a similar illness, which may inspire future designs of the hat.

 

Since 2006, Kmart has raised more than $92.8 million for St. Jude.